Peter Schrager’s first 2026 NFL Mock Draft had the Bears making a logical decision, but who he had Chicago passing on raises eyebrows
ESPN analyst and NFL insider Peter Schrager always has one of the most accurate mock drafts every single year. See which prospect he selected for the Chicago Bears with the 25th overall pick and which prospects the team passed on.
The 2026 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away and the Chicago Bears are willing to wait out the draft board and take the best player available with the 25th overall pick.
Who that player turns out to be is still a mystery, as is what position the Bears actually look to target with their first-round selection. Many believe that decision will come down to the highest-ranked pass rusher, offensive tackle, or safety based on the team’s needs.
On Tuesday, ESPN analyst and NFL insider Peter Schrager released his first mock draft of the season. Schrager is consistently one of the most accurate mock drafters in the industry, so his words do hold some weight based on his sources around the NFL. Here’s the selection he made for the Bears.
ESPN’s Peter Schrager has the Bears selecting Alabama left tackle Kadyn Proctor in first mock draft
“Proctor is a mass of humanity,” Schrager wrote. “He weighed in at 358 pounds at his pro day — but he can move. If he keeps his weight down, Proctor has as much upside as any tackle in this class. And frankly, I think he is going earlier than No. 25. But with Ozzy Trapilo out and Braxton Jones’ uneven play, Chicago would be happy with this outcome. General manager Ryan Poles is often credited for the Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey picks in Kansas City, and he has the chance to add another star to the list.”
Going the offensive tackle route isn’t a surprise. Speaking with reporters last week at the NFL Annual Meeting, head coach Ben Johnson expressed his long-term concerns about the position, well beyond the 2026 season.
The Bears were hoping they found their left tackle of the future in Ozzy Trapilo, the team’s second-round pick in 2025. However, Trapilo’s significant patellar tendon injury leaves plenty of uncertainty at the position.
As for Proctor, he’s one of the few true left tackles expected to be on the board late in the first-round. Poles attended the Alabama Pro Day last month and got his eyes on the massive prospect and got to see him move in person. Even still, Poles shared concerns about relying on a rookie left tackle to start right out of the gate.
“But even with that, you have a rookie and there’s some uncertainty there too,” Poles said. “I feel like we’re just so used to living in that space where you gotta figure it out and find the best solutions.”
The prospects Schrager had the Bears passing on in favor of Proctor is even more interesting
After Schrager selected Proctor with the 25th overall pick, the two prospects came of the board in the following selections that the Bears could be high on: DT Kayden McDonald (26) and S Dillon Thieneman (30).
Schrager passing on both of those players in favor of an offensive tackle is very surprising. Especially Thieneman, who many project to land higher in the first-round. The thing with Thieneman, however, is that he’s much better in zone than man and that’s something that could knock him down on Chicago’s board.
As for McDonald, he’s a beast of a nose tackle but doesn’t come close to the typical mold of a Dennis Allen-type defensive tackle. That didn’t stop the Bears from bringing him in on a 30 visit, so perhaps Allen could make an exception.
We’ll see how things change the closer we get to the draft. If Schrager’s first mock is any indication of what the Bears do, don’t be shocked if the 25th overall pick turns out to be an offensive tackle.
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